KR20200141226A - Clothes care apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a clothing care apparatus including a water level detection sensor configured to detect the level of water stored in a steam generation apparatus. An objective of the present invention is to provide a clothing care apparatus including a water level detection sensor improved to prevent malfunction. The clothing care apparatus comprises: a main body including a care room for accommodating clothing; a machine room provided in the main body to be arranged underneath the care room; and a steam generation apparatus which is arranged in the machine room, and has a case and a water level detection sensor provided to be separated from the case to detect the water level in the case. The water level detection sensor includes: a housing coupled to the case; a plurality of electrodes supported by the housing; and an electrode film having an electrode film body provided to surround the plurality of electrodes and an electrode hole provided on the electrode film body to expose the plurality of electrodes to the outside of the electrode film body. The electrode hole is positioned to be separated from one end of the electrode film body or the other end of the electrode film body.

Description

Clothing manager {CLOTHES CARE APPARATUS}

The present invention relates to a clothing manager including a water level sensor configured to detect the level of water stored in the steam generating device.

The clothes manager is a device that performs clothes care such as drying wet clothes, removing dust attached to clothes or odors from clothes, and reducing wrinkles of clothes.

The clothes manager may have a heat exchange device that supplies hot air to a management room in which clothes are accommodated to dry clothes, and a steam generator configured to perform a refresh function such as wrinkle removal, deodorization removal, static electricity removal, etc. It can be provided.

The clothes manager may include a body forming a management room for storing clothes. The machine room in which the steam generating device and the heat exchange device are disposed may be disposed below the management room. The management room and the machine room can be separated.

The clothes manager dries clothes accommodated in the management room by a heat exchange device provided in the machine room, and air that has been moistened after drying the clothes may be dehumidified by the heat exchange device and supplied back to the inside of the management room.

The steam generating device may include a case configured to receive water therein, and a water level sensor that is detachably coupled to the case to detect a level of water accommodated in the case.

The water level sensor may include a housing detachably coupled to the case, an electrode supported by the housing and in contact with water accommodated in the case, and an electrode film extending from the housing to surround the electrode.

In general, one end of the electrode may be exposed to the outside of the electrode film in order to directly contact water accommodated in the case. At this time, damage such as bending or scratching may occur at one end of the exposed electrode during circulation of the steam generator, and rust may occur due to prolonged exposure to shorten the life of the electrode.

In addition, the fluctuation of water accommodated in the case may directly contact one end of the exposed electrode, resulting in a malfunction of the water level sensor.

The present invention provides a clothing manager including an improved water level detection sensor to prevent erroneous detection despite the fluctuation of water inside a case.

The present invention provides a clothing management device including an improved water level detection sensor to prevent malfunction despite the close distance between a plurality of electrodes.

The present invention provides a clothing management device including an improved water level detection sensor to match and commonize the lengths of a plurality of electrodes.

The clothes manager according to the idea of the present invention includes a main body including a management room for accommodating clothes, a machine room provided inside the main body so as to be disposed under the management room, and an inside of the machine room, and the case and the inside of the case And a steam generating device having a water level detection sensor detachably provided from the case to sense a water level of, wherein the water level detection sensor includes a housing coupled to the case, a plurality of electrodes supported by the housing, and the plurality of An electrode coating body provided to surround each of the electrodes of and an electrode coating having an electrode hole provided in the electrode coating body to expose the plurality of electrodes to the outside of the electrode coating body, and the electrode hole It may be positioned to be spaced apart from one end of the body or the other end of the electrode-coated body.

One end of the electrode film may be integrally connected to the housing, and the other end of the electrode film may be spaced apart from the bottom surface of the case.

The plurality of electrodes may have the same length.

The electrode includes a first surface, a second surface facing the first surface, a third surface connecting the first surface and the second surface, and a fourth surface facing the third surface, the At least one of the first surface and the second surface may be exposed to the outside of the electrode coating body through the electrode hole.

At least one of the third and fourth surfaces may be wrapped by the electrode coating body.

At least one of an edge of the first surface and an edge of the second surface may be wrapped by the electrode coating body.

The plurality of electrodes includes a first electrode and a second electrode adjacent to the first electrode, and through the electrode hole and a part of the first electrode exposed to the outside of the electrode coating body through the electrode hole. A position of a part of the second electrode exposed to the outside of the electrode-coated body may be different.

The electrode coating body includes a first electrode coating body surrounding the first electrode, and a second electrode coating body surrounding the second electrode, and the electrode hole is a first electrode hole provided in the first electrode coating body And a second electrode hole positioned in the second electrode-coated body so as to be spaced apart from the bottom surface of the case with a distance different from the distance apart from the first electrode hole from the bottom surface of the case.

At least one of a third surface of the first electrode and a fourth surface of the second electrode facing each other so as to space the first electrode and the second electrode apart from each other may be wrapped by the electrode coating body.

At least one of the fourth surface of the first electrode and the third surface of the second electrode may be exposed to the outside of the electrode coating body through the electrode hole.

The first electrode may include a common electrode, and the second electrode may include a low water level electrode configured to sense a low water level inside the case and a high water level electrode configured to sense a high water level inside the case.

The distance between the low water level electrode and the bottom surface of the case may be greater than or equal to the distance between the common electrode and the bottom surface of the case.

The low water level electrode may be positioned above a heater provided to heat water contained in the case.

The second electrode is external to the electrode coating body between the electrode hole provided to expose the low water level electrode to the outside of the electrode coating body and the electrode hole provided to expose the high water level electrode to the outside of the electrode coating body. It may further include a medium water level electrode exposed to.

The housing and the electrode film may be integrally formed with the electrode by insert injection.

In another aspect, according to the idea of the present invention, the clothes manager includes a body including a management room, a machine room disposed below the management room, and a steam generating device disposed inside the machine room, wherein the steam generator includes a case, and the A housing detachably coupled to the case, a plurality of electrodes supported at one end by the housing to sense the water level inside the case, and surrounding both ends of each of the plurality of electrodes, one end connected to the housing, and the other end It may include a water level sensor having an electrode film spaced apart from the bottom surface of the case.

The electrode film is disposed between one end of the electrode film body and the other end of the electrode film body so as to expose the electrode film body provided to respectively surround the plurality of electrodes and the plurality of electrodes to the outside of the electrode film body. It may include an electrode hole.

The plurality of electrodes include a first electrode and a second electrode adjacent to the first electrode, and the electrode film through the first electrode and the electrode hole exposed to the outside of the electrode film body through the electrode hole. The position of the second electrode exposed to the outside of the body may be different.

The first electrode includes a common electrode, and the second electrode includes a low water level electrode configured to sense a low water level inside the case, a high water level electrode configured to sense a high water level inside the case, and the low water level electrode. It may include a medium water level electrode exposed to the outside of the electrode coating body between the electrode hole provided to be exposed to the outside of the electrode coating body and the electrode hole provided to expose the high water level electrode to the outside of the electrode coating body. have.

In another aspect, according to the idea of the present invention, the clothes manager is a body including a management room for accommodating clothes, a machine room provided inside the body so as to be disposed under the management room, and a case and And a steam generating device having a water level detection sensor detachably provided with the case so as to sense a water level inside the case, wherein the water level detection sensor is a housing coupled to the case, supported by the housing, and a first A plurality of electrodes including an electrode and a second electrode adjacent to the first electrode, and at least one of one end surface of the first electrode and the second electrode facing each other so as to space the first electrode and the second electrode apart And an electrode coating having an electrode hole provided in the electrode coating body so as to expose at least one of the first electrode and the other end surface of the second electrode to the outside of the electrode coating body. .

According to the present invention, by insert-injecting the electrode film so as to surround the end of the electrode, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of the water level despite the fluctuation of water inside the case.

According to the present invention, by separating the distance between the plurality of electrodes, corrosion of the plurality of electrodes due to electrolysis between the plurality of electrodes can be prevented.

According to the present invention, by making the lengths of a plurality of electrodes the same, the number of parts can be reduced, and a common use of a plurality of electrodes can be made possible.

1 is a perspective view of a clothing manager according to the present invention.
2 is a view showing a state in which the door is opened in the clothes management device according to the present invention.
3 is a side cross-sectional view of a clothing manager according to the present invention.
4 is an exploded perspective view of a clothing manager according to the present invention.
5 is a perspective view showing a steam generating device in the clothes management device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a cross-sectional view of a steam generating device as viewed from AA′ of FIG. 5 in the clothes management device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a perspective view showing a water level sensor in the clothes management device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an electrode positioned inside an electrode film in the clothes management device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a perspective view illustrating a water level sensor in a clothes management device according to another embodiment of the present invention.
10 is a perspective view illustrating a water level sensor in a clothing management device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The embodiments described in the present specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are only preferred examples of the disclosed invention, and there may be various modified examples that may replace the embodiments and drawings of the present specification at the time of filing of the present application.

In addition, the same reference numerals or reference numerals shown in each drawing of the present specification indicate parts or components that substantially perform the same function.

In addition, terms used in the present specification are used to describe embodiments and are not intended to limit and/or limit the disclosed invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

In the present specification, terms such as "comprise" or "have" are intended to designate the presence of features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, but one or more other features. It does not preclude the presence or addition of elements, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

In addition, terms including ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" used herein may be used to describe various elements, but the elements are not limited by the terms, and the terms are It is used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from other components.

For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, a first element may be referred to as a second element, and similarly, a second element may be referred to as a first element. The term "and/or" includes a combination of a plurality of related stated items or any of a plurality of related stated items.

Meanwhile, terms such as “front”, “rear”, “upper” and “lower” used in the following description are defined based on the drawings, and the shape and position of each component are not limited by this term. .

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a perspective view of a clothing manager according to the present invention. 2 is a view showing a state in which the door is opened in the clothes management device according to the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the clothing manager 1 may include a main body 10 forming an external appearance, and a door 20 rotatably coupled to the main body 10.

The body 10 may have a substantially hexahedral shape with one open surface. An opening 10a may be formed in the front surface of the main body 10. A door 20 that is rotatably coupled to the body 10 to open and close the management room 30 may be installed.

Although not shown in the drawings, the door 20 may be installed on the main body 10 through a hinge or a link.

The body 10 may include a management room 30 provided inside the body 10 to accommodate and manage clothes. The front surface of the management room 30 may be opened and formed. The management room 30 may also be opened and closed by the door 20 that opens and closes the opening 10a.

3 is a side cross-sectional view of a clothing manager according to the present invention. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a clothing manager according to the present invention.

3 and 4, the main body 10 may include an outer cabinet 11 and an inner cabinet 12 disposed inside the outer cabinet 11. The main body 10 may include a support member 50 provided inside the management room 30 to mount clothes.

The main body 10 may include a machine room 40 provided with a heat exchange device 60 provided to dehumidify or heat the air inside the management room 30.

The management room 30 may form a space in which clothes are accommodated. The management room 30 may include an upper surface 12a, a lower surface 12b, a left surface 12c, a right surface 12d, and a rear surface 12e provided in the internal cabinet 12.

The inner cabinet 12 may include a frame 13 provided to support the upper surface 12a, the lower surface 12b, the left surface 12c, the right surface 12d, and the rear surface 12e.

The frame 13 may form a management room 30 and a machine room 40 disposed below the management room 30. However, it is not limited thereto.

The support member 50 may be installed on the upper surface 12a of the management room 30. The support member 50 may be detachably installed in the management room 30. At least one support member 50 may be provided. The support member 50 may be formed in the shape of a hanger so that clothes can be inserted. However, it is not limited thereto.

The support member 50 may be provided to allow air to flow therein. Dust or foreign matter adhered to the clothing may be removed by air supplied to the inside of the support member 50.

An air hole 51 for supplying air to clothes may be formed in the support member 50. The air hole 51 may be formed on the upper end of the support member 50, and air may be supplied to the clothing through the air hole 51.

However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the air hole 51 may be formed in various sizes at various positions so as to widely spray supplied air to the clothing.

The management room 30 may include a first inlet (31a) and a second inlet (32a), a first outlet (31b) and a second outlet (32b), and a steam inlet (33).

The first inlet 31a and the first outlet 31b may be formed on the lower surface 12b of the management room 30. The first inlet 31a may be disposed behind the lower surface 12b of the management room 30. The first outlet 31b may be disposed in front of the lower surface 12b of the management room 30. The first inlet 31a and the first outlet 31b may be disposed adjacent to each other.

The steam inlet 33 may be disposed under the rear surface 12e of the management room 30. The steam inlet 33 may be disposed above the first inlet 31a.

The second inlet 32a may be formed on the upper surface 12a of the management room 30. The second outlet 32b may be formed in the center of the rear surface 12e of the management room 30. The second inlet 32a and the second outlet 32b may be disposed adjacent to each other.

The second inlet 32a of the management room 30 may be connected to the support member 50. Air introduced through the second inlet 32a may be delivered to the support member 50 through the air hole 51 and may be delivered to the clothing mounted on the support member 50.

A drain container 61 and a water supply container 71 that are provided to be detachable from the body 10 may be installed under the body 10. The drainage container 61 and the water supply container 71 may be disposed below the management room 30.

The drain container 61 may be provided to facilitate the treatment of condensed water by the heat exchange device 60. The water supply tank 71 may store water required to generate steam in the steam generator 70.

The water in the water supply tank 71 may be supplied to the steam generating device 70 and used to form steam. The water supply tank 71 may be installed detachably from the main body 10 to facilitate water replenishment.

The drainage container 61 and the water supply container 71 may be provided in front of the machine room 40. The machine room 40 may be provided under the main body 10. The machine room 40 may be provided under the management room 30.

The hose 68 may be provided in plural, and the plurality of hoses 68 may be used for the heat exchange device 60 or the steam generator 70, respectively.

The heat exchange device 60 may be provided to dehumidify and heat the air inside the management room 30 as needed.

The heat exchange device 60 may be installed to supply hot air into the management room 30. The heat exchange device 60 may include an evaporator 63, a condenser 64, and a compressor 65 through which refrigerant circulates, and may be provided to dehumidify and heat air.

As the refrigerant evaporates in the evaporator 63 of the heat exchanger 60, the latent heat of the surrounding air is absorbed, and moisture in the air can be condensed and removed.

When the refrigerant is condensed in the condenser 64 via the compressor 65, the surrounding air can be heated by releasing latent heat toward the surrounding air.

Since the evaporator 63 and the condenser 64 perform a heat exchange function, the air flowing into the machine room 40 by the first fan 62 is dehumidified and heated through the evaporator 63 and the condenser 64 in sequence. I can.

The heat exchange device 60 installed in the machine room 40 may include a first duct 66 connecting the evaporator 63, the condenser 64, and the first fan 62, and the first duct 66 ) May be connected to the management room 30 to form a first flow path 67 circulating between the management room 30 and the first duct 66.

The first duct 66 may be connected to the first inlet 31a and the first outlet 31b of the management room 30. One end of the first duct 66 may be connected to the first inlet 31a, and the other end may be connected to the first outlet 31b.

The air from the management room 30 can be introduced into the first duct 66 through the first outlet 31b, and the introduced air can be dehumidified and introduced back into the management room 30 through the first inlet 31a. have.

The first inlet 31a may be disposed at the rear of the management room 30, and the first outlet 31b may be disposed in front of the management room 30. However, it is not limited thereto. The positions of the first inlet 31a and the first outlet 31b may be variously changed as necessary.

The first duct 66 may be provided to dehumidify the air introduced through the first outlet 31b and discharge it through the first inlet 31a. The first fan 62 may be provided on the first duct 66 to suck air from the management room 30 into the first duct 66.

The machine room 40 may be provided with a steam generator 70 that receives water from the water supply tank 71 and forms steam.

The steam generating device 70 may be connected to the water supply tank 71 to receive water to generate steam, and may include a steam supply pipe 74 for guiding the generated steam to the steam spraying unit 73. . The steam injection unit 73 may be disposed under the rear surface 12e of the management room 30.

The steam spraying unit 73 may be formed in a nozzle shape so as to smoothly spray steam into the interior space of the management room 30, and may be installed to be exposed to the interior of the management room 30.

The management room 30 may include a blower 80 for flowing air inside the management room 30. The blowing device 80 may include a second duct 81, and a second fan 82 may be installed inside the second duct 81.

The second duct 81 may be provided in communication with the management room 30 to form a second flow path 83 circulating between the management room 30 and the second duct 81. The second fan 82 may be disposed on the second flow path 83.

The second duct 81 may be formed behind the second outlet 32b of the management room 30. The second duct 81 may be provided above the rear surface 12e of the management room 30 and may include a filter 90 therein.

The filter 90 may include a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. However, it is not limited to this.

The second duct 81 may be combined with the top cover 91 disposed above the management room 30. The blower 80 is disposed at the rear of the upper portion of the management room 30 and may include a motor 84 generating rotational force, and at least one second fan 82 rotating by the motor 84. .

The motor 84 has its shaft protruding in both sides, and second fans 82 may be coupled to both ends of the shaft. Through this structure, one motor 84 can rotate the pair of second fans 82.

The pair of second fans 82 may be provided as centrifugal fans that suck air in the axial direction and discharge air outward in the radial direction. However, it is not limited thereto.

The second fan 82 may be accommodated by the fan case 85. The fan case 85 may be coupled to the duct bracket 86 provided on the upper surface 12a of the management room 30.

At least one duct hole 86a may be formed in the duct bracket 86, and each second fan 82 is coupled to at least one duct hole 86a to remove air from the second duct 81. 2 It can be moved to the inlet 32a.

The second duct 81 may be connected to the second inlet 32a and the second outlet 32b of the management room 30. One end of the second duct 81 may be connected to the second inlet 32a, and the other end may be connected to the second outlet 32b of the management room 30.

The second inlet 32a is connected to the support member 50 so that air from the second duct 81 may be transmitted to the support member 50.

The second fan 82 disposed inside the second duct 81 may be provided to suck the air inside the management room 30 through the second outlet 32b and discharge it through the second inlet 32a. have.

A filter installation part 92 for installing the filter 90 may be provided on the rear surface 12e of the management room 30. The second outlet 32b may be formed at a position corresponding to the filter installation part 92.

When the air inside the management room 30 flows into the second duct 81, it may be filtered by the filter 90 of the second outlet 32b. Dust and odors may be removed from the air flowing into the second duct 81 by the filter 90.

Air filtered by the filter 90 may be discharged to the support member 50 through the blower 80. The filter 90 may include a dust collecting filter (not shown) for removing dust or a means for deodorizing.

When managing clothes, the management room 30 may be operated in a state where the clothes are mounted on the support member 50 and the door 20 is closed. The management room 30 may circulate air along the first flow path 67 and the second flow path 83.

5 is a perspective view showing a steam generating device in the clothes management device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a steam generating device as viewed from A-A′ of FIG. 5 in the clothes management device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 7 is a perspective view showing a water level sensor in the clothes management device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an electrode positioned inside an electrode film in the clothes management device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 to 8, the steam generating device 70 is disposed inside the case 72 to heat the case 72 configured to store water therein and the water stored in the case 72. It may include a heater (75).

The case 72 may receive water from the water supply tank 71 (see FIG. 3) through a hose 68 (see FIG. 3).

The case 72 may include a lower case 72b accommodating water and an upper case 72a detachably coupled to an upper portion of the lower case 72b.

The case 72 may be formed to have a volume capable of accommodating a predetermined amount of water therein. The case 72 may have a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. However, it is not limited thereto.

The heater 75 may be installed adjacent to the bottom surface of the case 72 to heat water irrespective of the high or low level of water contained in the case 72. The heater 75 may be installed on the bottom of the lower case 72b, and when water flows into the lower case 72b, it may be installed to directly heat the water while completely submerged in water.

The heater 75 may include a sheath heater that has high thermal efficiency and can heat water in a relatively short time. However, it is not limited thereto. For example, the heater 75 may include a coil heater or the like for heating water stored in the case 72 from the outside of the case 72.

In the upper case 72a, the water supply unit 76 connected to the hose 68 and the water introduced into the case 72 are heated with a heater 75 to transfer the generated steam to the management room 30 (see FIG. 4). A discharge portion 77 connected to the steam supply pipe 74 for supplying may be formed.

The case 72 may be provided with a separate temperature sensor (not shown) for measuring the temperature of water contained in the case 72, and to prevent the heater 75 from being damaged due to overheating. A heater temperature sensor (not shown) such as a thermo-fuse may be installed on the heater 75. However, it is not limited thereto.

A water level detection sensor 100 for measuring the water level inside the case 72 may be installed in the upper case 72a.

The water level sensor 100 can replenish water if the water level stored in the case 72 is lower than the reference value, and if the water level stored inside the water level is higher than the reference value, the water supply is stopped and the heater 75 is operated. It may be connected to a control unit (not shown) to generate steam.

The water level sensor 100 includes a housing 110 that can support the electrode 120 and the electrode 120 extending toward the bottom surface of the lower case 72b and is detachably coupled to the upper case 72a. can do.

The housing 110 may be fixed with a bolt or the like outside the upper case 72b, and a socket part 140 for electrical connection to the outside may be provided on the upper side of the housing 110.

The electrode 120 may be installed with an appropriate height from the bottom surface of the lower case 72b to sense the level of water to be stored inside the case 72.

The water level sensor 100 may include a socket unit 140 into which a connector (not shown) configured to connect the electrode 120 to a control unit (not shown) of the clothing manager (see 1, FIG. 4) is inserted. have.

The socket part 140 may be provided on the housing 110. The socket part 140 may be formed to be exposed to the outside of the case 72. However, it is not limited thereto.

The water level sensor 100 may include an electrode film 130 surrounding the outer surface of the electrode 120. The electrode 120 may be provided in plural, and the electrode film 130 and the socket part 140 may be provided in plural to correspond to the plurality of electrodes 120, respectively.

When water is supplied to the inside of the case 72, electricity is transmitted to the at least one electrode 120 due to the water, and the control unit (not shown) detects this, so that the water level inside the case 72 can be measured.

The housing 110, the socket part 140, and the electrode film 130 may be integrally formed. That is, the housing 110, the socket part 140, and the electrode film 130 may be integrally formed with the electrode 120 by insert injection.

That is, after processing the electrode 120, the socket portion 140, the housing 110, and the electrode film 130 may be integrally formed by insert injection into the electrode 120. The socket portion 140, the housing 110, and the electrode film 130 excluding the electrode 120 may have insulating properties and may be made of a resin material to facilitate insert injection.

Therefore, when assembling the water level sensor 100 to the case 72, the water level sensor 100 is formed of a single part by insert injection, so that the water level sensor 100 is installed on the upper side of the case 72. Since assembly is completed only by simple assembly process, productivity can be improved. The electrode 120 may be formed of a conductive material through which current can flow.

The inside of the case 72 may be provided with a diaphragm 78 including an upper diaphragm 78a and a lower diaphragm 78b disposed around the electrode 120. The lower diaphragm 78b may be formed to protrude upward from the bottom surface of the lower case 72b and may be disposed adjacent to the electrode 120.

Like the lower diaphragm 78b, the upper diaphragm 78a may be formed to protrude downward from the upper case 72a so as to be disposed adjacent to the electrode 120.

Although not shown, a communication slit (not shown) may be formed between the sidewall of the case 72 and the diaphragm 78 so that water accommodated in the case 72 fills the interior of the diaphragm 78.

An approximately independent space may be formed around the electrode 120 by the diaphragm 78, and thus, water contained in the case 72 due to vibration transmitted from the outside or when water is supplied to the inside of the case 72. Even if this fluctuation occurs, since the interior of the space is partitioned by the diaphragm 78, the fluctuation is reduced, so that the water level detection sensor 100 can detect the water level accurately.

The electrode 120 may be provided in plural. The plurality of electrodes 120 may have the same length. Therefore, since the lengths of the plurality of electrodes 120 are the same, the number of components can be reduced, and common use of the plurality of electrodes 120 can be made possible.

The plurality of electrodes 120 may include a first electrode 121 and a second electrode 122 adjacent to the first electrode 121.

The first electrode 121 may include a common electrode 121a, and the second electrode 122 is a low water level electrode 122a configured to sense a low water level inside the case 72 and the interior of the case 72 It may include a high water level electrode (122b) configured to sense the high water level.

The common electrode 121a may be formed to extend to the vicinity of the bottom surface of the case 72 so as to contact water until the water inside the case 72 is exhausted. The low water level electrode 122a may be electrically connected to the common electrode 121a until the water inside the case 72 is exhausted.

The low water level electrode 122a may detect the minimum water level for preventing the heater 75 from overheating.

The low water level electrode 122a is a case 72 to prevent a fire that may occur when the steam generator 70 is installed in an inclined place, the heater 75 is exposed above the water surface of the water accommodated in the case 72 due to the inclination. ) Can have a location in contact with the water inside.

The low water level electrode 122a may be disposed on the heater 75. One end of the low water level electrode 122a is supported by the housing 110, and the other end of the low water level electrode 122a may be disposed above the heater 75 to be spaced apart from the heater 75.

The high water level electrode 122b may have a position in contact with water inside the case 72 to prevent water from overflowing from the case 72 to the outside when water is supplied to the inside of the case 72 above the high water level.

Hereinafter, the operating principle of the water level sensor 100 of the steam generating device 70 will be described in detail.

First, water may be introduced into the case 72 through the water supply unit 76, and the water introduced into the case 72 may be heated by the heater 75 and converted into steam.

Steam may flow into the management room 30 (refer to FIG. 4) through the discharge part 77 of the case 72.

When the inside of the case 72 is filled with water and the water level is full, the common electrode 121a, the low level electrode 122a, and the high level electrode 122b are all submerged in water and energized, so the controller (not shown) adheres to this state. It can be judged above.

When the water level inside the case 72 is exhausted and the water level reaches a medium level, the high water level electrode 122b is exposed above the water surface, so that the common electrode 121a is not energized, and the low level electrode 122a and the common electrode 121a are Because they are locked in and energize each other, the control unit (not shown) can determine this state as a low water level.

Water inside the case 72 is almost exhausted and falls below the low water level, and both the common electrode 121a and the low water level electrode 122a are exposed to the air, so that electricity may not be energized.

The electrode coating 130 includes an electrode coating body 131 provided to surround the electrode 120 and an electrode hole provided in the electrode coating body 131 to expose the electrode 120 to the outside of the electrode coating body 131. 132).

One end of the electrode film 130 may be integrally connected to the housing 110, and the other end of the electrode film 130 may be spaced apart from the bottom surface of the case 72. The electrode hole 132 may be located between one end of the electrode-coated body 131 and the other end of the electrode-coated body 131.

Accordingly, since the end of the electrode 120 is wrapped by the electrode-coated body 131, it is possible to prevent the water level sensor 100 from detecting erroneous water level despite the fluctuation of water inside the case 72.

Part of the first electrode 121 exposed to the outside of the electrode-coated body 131 through the electrode hole 132 and the second electrode 122 exposed to the outside of the electrode-coated body 131 through the electrode hole 132 The location of some of the) may be different.

The electrode-coated body 131 may include a first electrode-coated body 131a surrounding the first electrode 121 and a second electrode-coated body 131b surrounding the second electrode 122.

The electrode hole 132 has a distance different from the distance between the first electrode hole 132a provided in the first electrode-coated body 131a and the first electrode hole 132a from the bottom surface of the case 72. A second electrode hole 132b positioned in the second electrode-coated body 131b to be spaced apart from the bottom surface of the case 72 may be included.

The distance between the second electrode hole 132b and the bottom surface of the case 72 may be greater than or equal to the distance between the first electrode hole 132a and the bottom surface of the case 72.

The distance at which the low water level electrode 122a exposed to the outside of the electrode coating body 131 through the electrode hole 132 is separated from the bottom surface of the case 72 is the outside of the electrode coating body 131 through the electrode hole 132. The common electrode 121a exposed as may be greater than or equal to a distance separated from the bottom surface of the case 72.

That is, the electrode hole 132 provided to expose the low water level electrode 122a to the outside of the electrode-coated body 131 and the electrode hole 132 provided to expose the common electrode 121a to the outside of the electrode-coated body 131 ) Is spaced apart from the bottom surface of the case 72 may be the same. However, it is not limited thereto.

The electrode 120 may include a plurality of electrode surfaces 123. At least one of the plurality of electrode surfaces 123 may be exposed to the outside of the electrode coating body 131 through the electrode hole 132.

The electrode-coated body 131 may wrap at least one of one end surface of the first electrode 121 and the second electrode 122 that face each other so as to space the first electrode 121 and the second electrode 122 apart. .

The electrode 120 may have a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. However, it is not limited thereto. The electrode surface 123 includes a first surface 123a, a second surface 123b facing the first surface 123a, and a third surface 123c connecting the first surface 123a and the second surface 123b. ), and a fourth surface 123d facing the third surface 123c.

At least one of the first surface 123a and the second surface 123b may be exposed to the outside of the electrode coating body 131 through the electrode hole 132. The first surface 123a and the second surface 123b may be exposed to the outside of the electrode coating body 131 through the electrode hole 132. Accordingly, the first surface 123a and the second surface 123b may contact water inside the case 72.

At least one of the third surface 123c and the fourth surface 123d may be wrapped by the electrode coating body 131. The third surface 123c and the fourth surface 123d may be wrapped by the electrode coating body 131 so as to prevent contact with water inside the case 72.

At least one of an edge of the first surface 123a and an edge of the second surface 123b may be wrapped by the electrode coating body 131. The edge of the first surface 123a and the edge of the second surface 123b may be wrapped by the electrode coating body 131.

Accordingly, a portion of the first surface 123a of the first electrode 121 exposed to the outside of the first electrode coating body 131a through the first electrode hole 132a and the second electrode hole 132b A portion of the first surface 123a of the second electrode 122 exposed to the outside of the two-electrode coating body 131b may contact water accommodated in the case 72.

At least one of the third surface 123c of the first electrode 121 and the fourth surface 123d of the second electrode 122 facing each other so as to space the first electrode 121 and the second electrode 122 apart May be wrapped by the electrode coating body 131.

Accordingly, since the distance between the plurality of electrodes 120 is close, corrosion of the electrode 120 that may occur due to electrolysis can be prevented.

The lower end of the electrode hole 132 may be inclined. Accordingly, water in contact with the electrode 120 through the electrode hole 132 does not accumulate in the electrode hole 132 and may flow downward toward the inside of the case 72.

9 is a perspective view illustrating a water level sensor in a clothes management device according to another embodiment of the present invention. The water level detection sensor 200 according to another embodiment of the present invention differs in the number of the water level detection sensor 100 (refer to FIG. 5) and the electrode 220 and the position of the electrode hole 232 according to an embodiment of the present invention. There may be.

Hereinafter, a water level sensor 200 according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with a focus on differences from the water level sensor 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 9, the water level sensor 200 may support the electrode 220 and the electrode 220 extending toward the bottom surface of the lower case 72b (see FIG. 5), and the upper case 72a, 5) may include a housing 210 that is detachably coupled.

A socket part 240 for electrical connection with the outside may be provided on the upper side of the housing 210.

The water level detection sensor 200 may include an electrode film 230 surrounding the outer surface of the electrode 220. The electrode 220 may be provided in plural, and the electrode film 230 and the socket part 240 may be provided in plural to correspond to the plurality of electrodes 220, respectively.

The plurality of electrodes 220 may include a first electrode 221 and a second electrode 222 adjacent to the first electrode 221.

The first electrode 221 may include a common electrode 221a, and the second electrode 222 includes a low water level electrode 222a and a case configured to sense a low water level inside the case 72 (refer to FIG. 5). It may include a high water level electrode 222b configured to sense the high water level inside of 72).

The electrode coating 230 includes an electrode coating body 231 provided to surround the electrode 220 and an electrode hole provided in the electrode coating body 231 to expose the electrode 220 to the outside of the electrode coating body 231. 232) may be included.

One end of the electrode film 230 may be integrally connected to the housing 210, and the other end of the electrode film 230 may be spaced apart from the bottom surface of the case 72. The electrode hole 232 may be located between one end of the electrode coat 230 and the other end of the electrode coat 230.

Part of the first electrode 221 exposed to the outside of the electrode-coated body 231 through the electrode hole 232 and a second electrode 222 exposed to the outside of the electrode-coated body 231 through the electrode hole 232 The location of some of the) may be different.

The electrode coating body 231 may include a first electrode coating body 231a surrounding the first electrode 221, and a second electrode coating body 231b surrounding the second electrode 222.

The electrode hole 232 has a distance different from the distance apart from the first electrode hole 232a provided in the first electrode-coated body 231a and the first electrode hole 232a from the bottom surface of the case 72. A second electrode hole 232b positioned in the second electrode-coated body 231b to be spaced apart from the bottom surface of the case 72 may be included.

The electrode 220 may include a plurality of electrode surfaces 223. At least one of the plurality of electrode surfaces 223 may be exposed to the outside of the electrode coating body 231 through the electrode hole 232.

The electrode 220 may have a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. However, it is not limited thereto. The electrode surface 223 includes a first surface 223a, a second surface 223b facing the first surface 223a, and a third surface 223c connecting the first surface 223a and the second surface 223b. ), and a fourth surface 223d opposite to the third surface 223c.

The second electrode 222 includes a distance between the low water level electrode 222a exposed to the outside of the electrode coating body 231 and a distance apart from the bottom surface of the case 72 and a high water level electrode exposed to the outside of the electrode coating body 231 ( The middle water level electrode 222c exposed to the outside of the electrode-coated body 231 through the electrode hole 232 between the distance 222b is separated from the bottom surface of the case 72 may be included.

The high-water level electrode 222b and the medium-water level electrode 222c are set differently in positions at which the second electrode-coated body 231b is exposed to the outside through the second electrode hole 232b, so that the clothing manager 1 (see FIG. 1) Energy consumption can be reduced.

For example, if the high water level electrode 222b can detect the motion of the sterilization course, and the medium water level electrode 222c can detect the operation of the standard course, if, if the high level electrode 222b and the middle level electrode ( In the case where 222c is exposed to the outside of the second electrode-coated body 231b through the second electrode hole 232b, water is added to the inside of the case 72 even during the operation of the standard course. ) Through the second electrode hole 232b to a position exposed to the outside of the second electrode-coated body 231b, the amount of water to be boiled for generating steam increases, and thus energy consumption may increase.

10 is a perspective view illustrating a water level sensor in a clothing management device according to another embodiment of the present invention. The water level sensor 300 according to another embodiment of the present invention may have a difference in the shape of the water level sensor 100 (refer to FIG. 5) and the electrode hole 332 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a water level sensor 300 according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described focusing on differences from the water level sensor 100 (see FIG. 5) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 10, the water level sensor 300 may support the electrode 320 and the electrode 320 extending toward the bottom surface of the lower case 72b (see FIG. 5), and the upper case 72a, 5) may include a housing 310 detachably coupled to it.

A socket part 340 for electrical connection with the outside may be provided on the upper side of the housing 310.

The water level detection sensor 300 may include an electrode coating 330 surrounding the outer surface of the electrode 320. The electrode 320 may be provided in plural, and the electrode film 330 and the socket part 340 may be provided in plural to correspond to the plurality of electrodes 320, respectively.

The plurality of electrodes 320 may include a first electrode 321 and a second electrode 322 adjacent to the first electrode 321.

The first electrode 321 may include a common electrode 321a, and the second electrode 322 includes a low water level electrode 322a and a case configured to sense a low water level inside the case 72 (refer to FIG. 5). It may include a high water level electrode (322b) configured to sense the high water level inside the 72).

The electrode coating 330 includes an electrode coating body 331 provided to surround the electrode 320 and an electrode hole provided in the electrode coating body 331 to expose the electrode 320 to the outside of the electrode coating body 331. 332).

One end of the electrode film 330 may be integrally connected to the housing 310, and the other end of the electrode film 330 may be spaced apart from the bottom surface of the case 72. The electrode hole 332 may be located between one end of the electrode film 330 and the other end of the electrode film 330.

Part of the first electrode 321 exposed to the outside of the electrode coating body 331 through the electrode hole 332 and the second electrode 322 exposed to the outside of the electrode coating body 331 through the electrode hole 332 The location of some of the) may be different.

The electrode coating body 331 may include a first electrode coating body 331a surrounding the first electrode 321, and a second electrode coating body 331b surrounding the second electrode 322.

The electrode hole 332 has a distance different from the distance between the first electrode hole 332a provided in the first electrode-coated body 331a and the first electrode hole 332a from the bottom surface of the case 72. A second electrode hole 332b positioned in the second electrode-coated body 331b to be spaced apart from the bottom surface of the case 72 may be included.

The electrode 320 may include a plurality of electrode surfaces 323. At least one of the plurality of electrode surfaces 323 may be exposed to the outside of the electrode coating body 331 through the electrode hole 332.

The electrode 320 may have a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. However, it is not limited thereto. The electrode surface 323 is a first surface 323a, a second surface 323b facing the first surface 323a, and a third surface 323c connecting the first surface 323a and the second surface 323b. ), and a fourth surface 323d opposite to the third surface 323c.

The electrode hole 332 may be provided in the electrode coating body 331 to expose at least one of one end surface of the first electrode 321 and one end surface of the second electrode 322 to the outside of the electrode coating body 331. have.

That is, at least one of the fourth surface 323d of the first electrode 321 and the third surface 323c of the second electrode 322 is exposed to the outside of the electrode coating body 331 through the electrode hole 332 Can be. The fourth surface 323d of the first electrode 321 and the third surface 323c of the second electrode 322 may be exposed to the outside of the electrode coating body 331 through the electrode hole 332.

The third surface 323c of the first electrode 321 and the fourth surface 323d of the second electrode 322 may be wrapped by the electrode coating body 331. That is, the third surface 323c of the first electrode 321 and the fourth surface 323d of the second electrode 322 facing each other may not be exposed to the outside, but the first electrode 321 exposed to the outside. ) And the second electrode 322 may be increased.

Accordingly, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of the water level sensor 300 that may occur because the distance between the first electrode 321 and the second electrode 322 is close.

The lower end of the electrode hole 332 may be inclined. Accordingly, water in contact with the electrode 320 through the electrode hole 332 may not accumulate in the electrode hole 332 and may flow downward toward the inside of the case 72.

Although the technical idea of the present invention as described above has been described by a specific embodiment, the scope of the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

Various embodiments that can be modified or modified by a person of ordinary skill in the technical field of the present invention within the scope not departing from the gist of the technical idea of the present invention specified in the claims also belong to the scope of the present invention. will be.

1: clothes manager 10: main body
20: door 30: management room
40: machine room 50: support member
60: heat exchanger 61: drain bucket
68: hose 70: steam generator
71: water reservoir 72: case
72a: upper case 72b: lower case
73: steam injection unit 74: steam supply pipe
75: heater 76: water supply
77: discharge part 78: diaphragm
78a: upper diaphragm 78b: lower diaphragm
100, 200, 300: water level sensor 110, 210, 310: housing
120, 220, 320: electrode 121, 221, 321: first electrode
121a, 221a, 321a: common electrode 122, 222, 322: second electrode
122a, 222a, 322a: low level electrode 122b, 222b, 322b: high level electrode
222c: middle water electrode 123, 323: electrode surface
123a, 323a: page 1 123b, 323b: page 2
123c, 323c: page 3 123d, 323d: page 4
130, 230, 330: electrode coating 131, 231, 331: electrode coating body
131a, 231a, 331a: first electrode coating body 131b, 231b, 331b: second electrode coating body
132, 232, 332: electrode hole 132a, 232a, 332a: first electrode hole
132b, 232b, 332b: second electrode hole 140, 240, 340: socket

Claims (20)

A main body including a management room accommodating clothes;
A machine room provided inside the main body to be disposed below the management room; And
A steam generating device disposed inside the machine room and having a case and a water level detection sensor detachably provided with the case so as to sense a water level inside the case,
The water level detection sensor,
A housing coupled to the case,
A plurality of electrodes supported by the housing, and
An electrode coating body provided to respectively surround the plurality of electrodes, and an electrode coating having an electrode hole provided in the electrode coating body to expose the plurality of electrodes to the outside of the electrode coating body,
The electrode hole is a clothing manager positioned to be spaced apart from one end of the electrode-coated body or the other end of the electrode-coated body. The method of claim 1,
One end of the electrode film is integrally connected to the housing,
The other end of the electrode film is spaced apart from the bottom surface of the case. The method of claim 1,
The plurality of electrodes are clothing managers having the same length. The method of claim 1,
The electrode includes a first surface, a second surface facing the first surface, a third surface connecting the first surface and the second surface, and a fourth surface facing the third surface,
At least one of the first and second surfaces is exposed to the outside of the electrode-coated body through the electrode hole. The method of claim 4,
At least one of the third and fourth surfaces is wrapped by the electrode-coated body. The method of claim 4,
At least one of the edge of the first surface and the edge of the second surface is wrapped by the electrode coating body. The method of claim 1,
The plurality of electrodes includes a first electrode and a second electrode adjacent to the first electrode,
A clothing manager in which a part of the first electrode exposed to the outside of the electrode-coated body through the electrode hole and a part of the second electrode exposed to the outside of the electrode-coated body through the electrode hole are different from each other. The method of claim 7,
The electrode-coated body includes a first electrode-coated body surrounding the first electrode, and a second electrode-coated body surrounding the second electrode,
The electrode hole is a first electrode hole provided in the first electrode-coated body, and the second electrode hole is spaced apart from the bottom surface of the case at a distance different from the distance apart from the bottom surface of the case. A clothing management device including a second electrode hole positioned in the electrode coating body. The method of claim 7,
At least one of a third surface of the first electrode and a fourth surface of the second electrode facing each other so as to space the first electrode and the second electrode apart from each other is wrapped by the electrode-coated body. The method of claim 7,
At least one of the fourth surface of the first electrode and the third surface of the second electrode is exposed to the outside of the electrode-coated body through the electrode hole. The method of claim 7,
The first electrode includes a common electrode,
The second electrode includes a low water level electrode configured to sense a low water level inside the case, and a high water level electrode configured to sense a high water level inside the case. The method of claim 11,
A clothing management device wherein the low water level electrode is spaced apart from the bottom surface of the case, which is equal to or greater than the distance the common electrode is separated from the bottom surface of the case. The method of claim 11,
The low water level electrode is a clothing manager positioned above a heater provided to heat water contained in the case. The method of claim 11,
The second electrode is external to the electrode coating body between the electrode hole provided to expose the low water level electrode to the outside of the electrode coating body and the electrode hole provided to expose the high water level electrode to the outside of the electrode coating body. Clothing manager further comprising a medium water level electrode having an electrode hole exposed to. The method of claim 1,
The housing and the electrode film are formed integrally with the electrode by insert injection. A main body including a management room;
A machine room disposed below the management room; And
Including; a steam generating device disposed inside the machine room,
The steam generating device,
Case, and
A housing detachably coupled to the case, a plurality of electrodes supported at one end by the housing to sense the water level inside the case, and surrounds both ends of each of the plurality of electrodes, and one end is connected to the housing and the other end A clothing management device comprising a water level sensor having an electrode film spaced apart from the bottom surface of the case. The method of claim 16, wherein the electrode coating comprises an electrode coating body provided to respectively surround the plurality of electrodes, and one end of the electrode coating body and the electrode coating body to expose the plurality of electrodes to the outside of the electrode coating body. Clothing management device comprising an electrode hole disposed between the other end of the. The method of claim 17,
The plurality of electrodes includes a first electrode and a second electrode adjacent to the first electrode,
The clothing manager in which the positions of the first electrode exposed to the outside of the electrode coating body through the electrode hole and the second electrode exposed to the outside of the electrode coating body through the electrode hole are different. The method of claim 18,
The first electrode includes a common electrode,
The second electrode includes a low water level electrode configured to sense a low water level inside the case, a high water level electrode configured to sense a high water level inside the case, and the low water level electrode provided to be exposed to the outside of the electrode coating body. A clothing manager comprising an electrode hole and a medium water level electrode exposed to the outside of the electrode coating body between the electrode hole and the electrode hole provided to expose the high water level electrode to the outside of the electrode coating body. A main body including a management room accommodating clothes;
A machine room provided inside the main body to be disposed below the management room; And
A steam generating device disposed inside the machine room and having a case and a water level detection sensor detachably provided with the case so as to sense a water level inside the case,
The water level detection sensor,
A housing coupled to the case,
A plurality of electrodes supported by the housing and including a first electrode and a second electrode adjacent to the first electrode, and
An electrode coating body surrounding at least one of one end surface of the first electrode and the second electrode facing each other so as to separate the first electrode and the second electrode, and the other end surface of the first electrode and the second electrode. A clothing management device comprising an electrode coating having an electrode hole provided in the electrode coating body to expose at least one of the electrode coating body to the outside.

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